Anti-corruption -All Noise

Posted to the Web: Thursday, June 14, 2007



DO you still remember that Nigerians were told that after May 29, all the Governors who had dipped their fingers into their state coffers would be prosecuted? Nobody could have forgotten that the reason given for not prosecuting these Governors was the immunity Section 308 of the Constitution offers them.

More than a week after they lost their immunity, none of the 23 Governors that were regularly rated as serial offenders has been prosecuted. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had said it had taken all measures to ensure the Governors did not escape. It made appropriate noise about telling foreign missions to cancel their existing visas and not to issue new ones.

What are the EFCC and the Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, waiting for now that the immunity of those governors is gone? Do they also know that Nigerians expect them to investigate and prosecute all, whose activities could not be scrutinized as a result of their immunity?

There is enormous work for both organisations to do. The Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, scandal that put the Presidency to shame at the twilight of last administration deserves to be thoroughly investigated for its criminal dimensions, rather than the political treatment the National Assembly gave it.
However, it looks like Nigerians are in for another round of excuses. The ICPC Act of 2000 empowered to investigate the activities of public office holders has offered the first excuse - it has no funds to carry out its functions.

According to Mike Sowe, ICPC Head of Media, “The Chief Justice of Nigeria has to appoint an independent counsel to prosecute the corrupt governors. It is the responsibility of the CJN to prosecute. But, the money for that purpose is not there”. The finality of the financial constraint rings through Mr. Sowe’s submissions.
Nigerians would not be impressed by this latest excuse. At what point did money become a problem? Was it after the immunity of those officials elapsed? How can a government that claims to hate corruption and would do everything to fight it refuse to fund the institutions the law has set up to fight corruption? Are there no annual budgets for these bodies?

The attitude of government to fighting corruption has been wrong from the beginning. Instead of a national battle, based on the realisation of the dangers corruption poses to the development and well being of the country, corruption has been fought more as the private war of those who are in a position to deal with perceived enemies. The excuse about funds is unacceptable.

Heads of these organisations should have a serious meeting with the new government to resolve whatever issues are involved. President Umaru Yar’Adua has consistently alluded to giving impetus to fight against corruption. The present posture of the ICPC and the EFCC, which has reclined to a deafening silence, cannot qualify for the new government policy on corruption.

Alternatively, if the war on corruption is over, government should, with as much gusto as it had deployed in prosecuting it, tell the world. It would be sad if this legacy of the Obasanjo administration goes with him.